Getting from 124 to 24 - A Playoff Odyssey

[TypicalTribe]

At the start of the season, we had a total of 124 teams playing FCS-level football. With only 24 playoff bids available, that means a nice round number of 100 teams will fall by the wayside. Sounds like a lot, but we're well on our way already.

First, thanks to Ivy League for not being eligible. All 8 eliminated.

Next, thanks to the SWAC for playing a Championship game. All 10 eliminated since none will have an at-large resume.

Lastly, there are some additional ineligible teams, but they'll be covered in the individual conference breakdowns. So, we're at 106 as we dive in.

Big Sky
Alive - EWU, Montana, Montana State, Cal Poly, N. Arizona, Idaho State, North Dakota
Done - UC Davis, Weber State, Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State

Notes: North Dakota stays in because if they run the table, it's a decent 8-4 resume. Sac State not so much.

Big South
All six teams still alive given that conference play has just started

CAA
Alive - Nova, UNH, Stony Brook, Delaware, Richmond, JMU, Albany, W&M
Done - Maine, Towson, Elon, URI

MEAC
Alive - BCC, Morgan St, Norfolk St, NC A&T, NC Central, Delaware St (technically alive but barely)
Done - FAMU (ineligible), Hampton, Savannah State (ineligible), Howard

MVFC
Alive - NDSU, Illinois St, SDSU, YSU, SIU, Indiana St, Missouri St, UNI
Out - WIU, South Dakota

NEC
Alive - SHU, BRyant, Wagner, Duquesne, Robert Morris
Done - CCSU, St Francis-NY (ineligible)

OVC
Alive - Jax St, EKU, EIU, SEMO, Tenn Tech
Done - UT-M, Austin Peay, Tenn State, Murray State

Patriot
Alive - Fordham, Colgate, Bucknell, Lafayette, lehigh
Done - Georgetown, Holy Cross

Pioneer
Alive - Jacksonville, Campbell, Dayton, San Diego, Drake
Done - Butler, Morehead St, Marist, Stetson, Valpo, Davidson

Southern
Alive - Western Carolina, Chatty, Wofford, Furman
Done - Samford, Mercer, Citadel, VMI

Southland
Alive - SELA, Central Ark, NW State, SFA, McNeese, SHSU, Lamar
Done - Abilene, Incarnate, Houston Baptist, Nicholls State

By my count, that's 38 more teams that will be beyond the reach of the selection committee which leaves us with 68. Still too early for anyone to be a lock given the number of games left, but things will clarify much more in the next week or two.

[Gordon Shumway]

And many of those still alive are just the walking dead. :D

[skinny_uncle]

Nice summary.

[TypicalTribe]

Bump

Big Sky
Alive - EWU, Montana, Montana State, Cal Poly, N. Arizona, Idaho State
Done - North Dakota, UC Davis, Weber State, Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State

Big South
Alive - Coastal, Liberty, Presbyterian, Monmouth, Gardner-Webb
Done - Charleston Southern

CAA
Alive - Nova, UNH, Delaware, Richmond, JMU, Albany, W&M
Done - Stony Brook, Maine, Towson, Elon, URI

MEAC
Alive - BCC, Morgan St, Norfolk St, NC A&T, NC Central, South Carolina State
Done - Delaware St, FAMU (ineligible), Hampton, Savannah State (ineligible), Howard

MVFC
Alive - NDSU, Illinois St, SDSU, YSU, SIU, Indiana St, Missouri St, UNI
Out - WIU, South Dakota

NEC
Alive - SHU, Bryant, Wagner, Duquesne
Done - Robert Morris, CCSU, St Francis-NY (ineligible)

OVC
Alive - Jax St, EKU, EIU
Done - SEMO, Tenn Tech, UT-M, Austin Peay, Tenn State, Murray State

Patriot
Alive - Fordham, Colgate, Bucknell
Done - Lafayette, Lehigh, Georgetown, Holy Cross

Pioneer
Alive - Jacksonville, Campbell, Dayton, San Diego, Drake
Done - Butler, Morehead St, Marist, Stetson, Valpo, Davidson

Southern
Alive - Western Carolina, Chatty, Wofford
Done - Furman, Samford, Mercer, Citadel, VMI

Southland
Alive - SELA, Central Ark, NW State, SFA, McNeese, SHSU, Lamar
Done - Abilene, Incarnate, Houston Baptist, Nicholls State


So, we're down to 57 teams with playoff hopes still alive. The developements in the Southland and Big Sky served to keep things more interesting than expected and the bubble continues to be pretty healthy with four weeks to play.

[knucklehead]

Again, nice work.